Transparency first

Sunday

Jul 20, 2014 at 12:01 AMJul 21, 2014 at 8:20 AM

U-T San Diego

This November, California voters will be asked to consider a purely symbolic measure encouraging Congress to amend the Constitution and overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in the Citizens United case. The court struck down provisions of the McCain-Feingold law that banned corporations and unions from running TV ads related to upcoming elections. Justices essentially held that these groups have the same free-speech rights as individuals.

Ever since then we’ve seen the political left make increasingly extreme claims about this ruling having a devastating effect on our democracy. In agreeing to let the advisory measure go on the ballot — albeit without his signature — Gov. Jerry Brown said the court “grossly underestimated the corrupting influence of unchecked money on our democratic institutions.”

Yes, America does need campaign reform. But that reform is transparency. All campaign contributions and spending should be disclosed immediately, in real time, online.

Full disclosure will give the media and the public the ability to judge if they change the behavior of those benefiting from the money. It’s far preferable to limiting speech rights.